The Trans Euro Trail® is a

Community Interest Company

"What's a Community Interest Company? Does this mean that the TET is a business? Will I have to pay for it? Why does it need to be commercial?"

A Community Interest Company (CIC) provides the TET with a host of benefits as it grows from an idea to a fully fledged organisation that has the potential for real impact. Founder John Ross explains how...

Q: What was the original vision for the TET?

A: That’s an easy one! The vision of the TET was, is and will be the creation, maintenance, facilitation and dissemination of a free-to-download community run legal off pavement route across this wonderful continent for adventurous motorcycle travellers.

Q: What has been most surprising about the launch and establishment of the TET community?

A: Where to start?! We started out with idea of creating a wiggly line of adventure but we’ve come to realise that this wiggly line has many threads. A sense of excitement and community. The realisation that the TET was filling an unmet need to explore and experience the unrivalled variety on our doorsteps.

The goodness of our community – whether it be helping those in need by the roadside, offering advice and friendship on social media or the trail, the sensitivity to other trail users and the desire to see share our passion and see it continue into the future. The benefit that we can bring to rural, often marginalised, communities through offering an additional income stream.

Q: What is a Community Interest Company?

A: Purely and simply, a Community Interest Company (CIC) is a type of limited liability company designed for social enterprises that want to use their profits and assets for the public good. It is a business with explicit social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested in the business or in the community with the aim of furthering those objectives. It exits to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.
Regulated by the UK government, applicants must demonstrate that there is an identifiable community and that this community will benefit from the activities of the company. Registration as a CIC is, in effect, external validation of who we are and what we do - that there is a community of TET Riders and that our work benefits them and the wider community that we are all part of.
A CIC has an “asset lock” whereby all assets (for example the trademarked TET logo and name) must be used for the community purpose. If the CIC is wound up, its assets must be transferred to another, similarly asset-locked body. They cannot be sold or disposed of for personal gain.
There is a statutory obligation on the CIC to be open and transparent by placing on public record for public scrutiny an annual community benefit report on what it has done to work towards achieving its aims and what it has spent its money on.

Q: Why is the CIC a good fit for the TET? What will it help achieve in the future?

A: By creating the Trans Euro Trail Community Interest Company we are enshrining and protecting the ethos of the TET. We are committing ourselves explicitly and publicly to our aims. We are protecting it from abuse. We have nailed our colours to the mast.

But more than that, it gives us the structure and standing to engage with other organisations as a recognised legal entity. This may be anything from liaising with tourist authorities, negotiating discounts with ferry operators for TET Riders, supporting organisations that further responsible trail use to even applying for funds from public bodies to further the aims of the TET.

Q: Does this mean that the TET is becoming a business?

A: Yes and no. “Yes”, the TET is evolving and maturing from a bunch of mates with a shared dream to a formal grown-up entity designed to protect that dream and that vision within a strict and explicit parameter of not-for-profit community benefit. And “No” we’re not cashing in for profit or selling out to corporate big business. It is going to be more of a hassle for us but we believe it’s worth the effort.

Q: Have there been any aspects of the TET that you feel need some care and attention?

A: The novelty of the concept, the ease of access of a route across our densely populated continent and the sheer numbers taking an interest have made us concerned about both overuse and types of usage that may be counterproductive to our stated aims and mantra of “Respect for the Trails, Respect for the Environment and Respect for the Communities we pass through”.
There are “honey pots” developing. Some are more fragile than others. This fragility is not just in the trails themselves but in the perception of the TET and trail riders by the communities we pass through. For example, Belgium is a densely populated country with an enthusiastic adventure riding community. Many of those riders had been unaware of the legal trails that lay on their doorsteps until the TET arrived. With limited trails and high demand, the potential for conflict and a backlash is high. The TET has been liberating there but puts a huge responsibility on those that ride it if they wish to see it survive.

We always saw the TET as a spine and a means to an end rather than to be perceived as the one and only route across Europe or the only means of exploring a country. The development by the UK’s Trail Riders Fellowship of an accessible online resource of legal unpaved roads is just perfect. People will then be able to drop off the “spine” and explore the “ribs” and “limbs”, reducing footfall on the main route, spreading the message of responsible legal trail use and spending their cash in local communities. We’d love to see other countries doing the same.

Q: Where is the TET going?

A: 2018 is all about laying a foundation for the future.
The project has grown and expanded beyond all expectations. But like a plant shooting up towards the light, it needs to make sure its roots and stalk are strong and deep so that it doesn’t break and collapse with the first breath of wind or shower of rain. There will be challenges ahead. There are powerful and vocal lobby groups in some countries that see off-pavement use of motor vehicles as incompatible with their agendas. They will eventually discover the TET. We need to make sure that we are able to meet their challenges maturely, diplomatically and calmly to show them and the ears that listen to them that there is an alternative narrative. We can all as individuals contribute to the evidence-base for those arguments by riding considerately and responsibly and not reinforcing their preconceived and ingrained perceptions of trail riders are just a bunch of selfish hooligans. We know different.
When 2018’s riding season’s end draws near, we will have a sit down and think about “what’s next”. We’ve plenty of ideas! The handrail of the CIC’s aims and goals will be our reference document at all times.

Q: How can the TET community contribute to the future of the TET?

A: Do what you’re doing now! Smile, talk, support, enthuse, suggest, feed back - be ambassadors for trail riders and the TET on social media, on the trail and in your communities. Just as we will use the CIC’s aims and goals as our handrail, we hope you will use the Code of Conduct as yours.

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Before downloading this file, please read the following.
By continuing to the download and in using the Trans Euro Trail® files, you are accepting and
agree to everything below.
1. The GPX is issued by the Trans Euro Trail® Community Interest Company, Company No.
11371199, Address: Unit 3, Cragg Road, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7
5HR, United Kingdom
2. The GPX is issued free of charge and is provided "as is," with all faults, defects and errors,
and without warranty of any kind
3. The accuracy of the trail is not guaranteed, nor are the GPS co-ordinates.
4. The Trans Euro Trail® is a suggestion not a direction.
5. The Trans Euro Trail® Community Interest Company does not represent or warrant that
materials in the site or the services are accurate, complete, reliable, current or error-free.
6. The Trans Euro Trail® Community Interest Company cannot represent or warrant that the
site or its servers are free of viruses or other harmful components.
7. You undertake not to share this GPX on any electronic file sharing device or server.
8. You will download the most recent GPX for your country of travel just before you require it
and download updates, if relevant, while travelling.
9. If you stray onto private land, apologise and get back onto the road or trail.
10. These trails can be temporarily or permanently closed at short notice under local law.
11. Do not ride trails beyond your capability. If unsure, get off your bike and walk the trail first.
Be prepared to turn round and find an alternative route.
12. Trail riding alone, especially on trails you do not know, is really unwise.
13. Many country trails are rarely maintained. You will find ruts, holes, floods, treacherous
surfaces and the occasional booby trap hazard deliberately placed by people who do not like
motorcycles using trails.
14. When you use the trails and roads, you are on your own. You exercise your judgement in
your own skills and your own navigation. All the Trans Euro Trail® Community Interest
Company can do is show you where some of the trails are, but their legality and viability are
not confirmed and can change at a moment's notice.
15. You undertake to respect and adhere to road signs, barriers and local laws. The decision to
use a road or trail is entirely yours and you accept that you bear full responsibility for your
action or any infringements of the law.
16. The Trans Euro Trail® Community Interest Company shall not have any liability for use of the
GPX, directly or indirectly arising out of its use or in any way involving any Claim which is
brought in any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.
17. Motorcycling carries risks. Adventure motorcycling adds to these:
a. Mobile phone coverage may be patchy or non-existent so summoning help may be
limited. If help is summoned it may struggle to reach you and you may incur high
costs. Unpaved tracks vary from gravel to broken tar to sand to stone to boulder to
grass. Each carries its own challenges of grip, stability and unpredictability all of
which vary immensely with weather conditions which can change quickly especially
in mountain areas.
b. The physical demands of riding a motorcycle, laden or otherwise, off road are not to
be underestimated. If you drop it, picking it up can be hard work and recovering it
from a hillside, river or mud hole where it has slipped can be exhausting. Add into
the mix the variable climate in Europe - subzero to high 30s and above - and heat,
cold and dehydration can impair performance and make a dangerous cocktail when
mixed with the complex task of off pavement riding.

c. Navigation can be challenging, especially without practicing using GPS or maps on
the move, on the “wrong" side of the road or with signposts in an unfamiliar script.
d. Mechanical issues easily sorted out in one's own garage or home city can become
much more of a challenge away from home in an area with poor infrastructure or
dealer knowledge.
e. Local adults and children (and animals!) may be unfamiliar with motorcycles or their
capabilities and misjudge situations. Driving standards and discipline vary hugely and
often the perception is “might is right” with scant regard being paid to the little guy
on a motorbike.
f. Local wildlife both domestic and wild can pose risks. Bears and wolves are present in
some areas, snakes in others, wild roaming reindeer in the far north and cattle and
dogs are all over.
g. Laws and regulations are always changing across the continent, so a trail that
contributors thought was legal, may not now be so. This may lead to conflict with
the authorities, communities, landowners or other users - anything from a glance, a
shout or a waved fist to arrest, prosecution, litigation, bike confiscation, fine or loss
of licence or liberty.
h. Concepts and practice of sanitation and hygiene vary immensely and medical
facilities can be scarce, suboptimal or distant.
i. The seedier side of humanity can also impact on you through theft, assault or fraud.
j. Be aware that some areas of eastern Europe also have heightened awareness of
mobile populations following the influx of refugees so you may come across
desperately poor people or wary authorities.
k. In Bosnia, Croatia and other locations the detritus of war still exists in the form of
uncleared mine-fields. Snow, water and soil creep all shift these so that straying
from established well used trails can be dangerous and, needless to say, stupid.
18. All trails and roads require you and your motorcycle to be fully insured, licensed and road-
worthy
19. You should ensure that your paperwork is in order whether it be bike, breakdown or
medical/repatriation insurance, licences or passports
20. You should get some practice in to build confidence and competence (and respect for your
own limits and those of your bike)
21. You should ensure you are properly equipped with the right tyres, spares, protection, first
aid kit, communications devices (and batteries!), luggage and camping gear
22. Ride with an awareness of the terrain, surface and in anticipation of unexpected hazards
23. Moderate your speed
24. Get bike fit. If you’ve got a medical condition then think carefully and take some medical
advice
25. Start the trip with a travel ready bike. Get familiar with your bike, what daily checks to make
and how to fix issues with it.
26. Take security precautions with your possessions and self
27. You agree to adhere to the Trans Euro Trail® Code of Conduct and be an ambassador of
responsible motorcycling.
28. Accept that you are master or mistress of your own destiny, safety, health and security. You
take responsibility for whatever happens.